Electrophotography – Document handling – Copy
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-04
2001-05-08
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Document handling
Copy
C270S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229984
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, facsimile, printer, or the like, and more particularly relates to an image forming apparatus which staples or punches sheets in an efficient manner.
DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND
FIG. 8
is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a background image forming apparatus having a so-called finisher function. Generally, the finisher function refers to a function to staple and/or punch sheets output from an image forming apparatus. As shown in
FIG. 8
, an image forming apparatus
500
is constructed of an image forming unit
501
and a finisher
2
. A control unit
511
of the image forming unit
501
controls an operation of the image forming apparatus
500
. When a print command is received from an external host computer “C”, an image generating unit
12
interprets the print command and generates bit-mapped image data, and an image forming device
13
forms an image on a sheet according to the image data. The finisher
2
includes a sheet output tray
21
on which sheets are output from the image forming unit
501
, a staple unit
22
which staples the output sheets, and a punch unit
23
which punches the output sheets. The finisher
2
staples or punches the output sheets according to a staple or punch instruction included in the print command. When the instruction for stapling or punching is input through an operational display panel
14
, the control unit
511
controls the finisher
2
to staple or punch the output sheets according to the input instruction.
FIG. 9
is a schematic drawing illustrating a construction of the finisher
2
shown in FIG.
8
. Numeral
20
denotes a staple/punch unit (a combination of
22
,
23
from FIG.
8
). The staple/punch unit
20
is movable along an edge of the sheet output tray
21
. The unit
20
is also movable along a curved line at the side of an user “U” operating the apparatus
500
. A letter “M” denotes an area where the staple/punch unit
20
is movable.
FIG. 10
is a schematic drawing illustrating positions where the staple/punch unit
20
can staple or punch. As illustrated in
FIG. 10
, the staple/punch unit
20
can staple or punch sheets in a position “S” or “H” in parallel with a side P
1
of a sheet “P”(in parallel with the right side edge of the sheet “P” when viewed from the user “U”) or staples slantingly in a position “S” at a side corner P
2
of the sheet “P” (at the front right side corner of the sheet “P” when viewed from the user “U”).
FIG. 11
is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu for selecting a stapling/punching position and a stapling/punching pattern, which is displayed in the operational display panel
14
of the apparatus
500
or a display of the host computer “C”. As menus for specifying a stapling position, there are shown such positions as “right side”, “left side”, “upper right”, “upper left”, “lower right”and “lower left” positions. As menus for a stapling pattern, there are shown such patterns as “horizontal”, “perpendicular”, “slanting” and “double” patterns. The user “U” selects and inputs a desired staple position and a desired staple pattern from among these menu choices. A punching position and a punching pattern are also selected and input in a similar manner. Also, there are shown menus for selecting a duplex print (forming an image on both sides of a sheet) or a simplex print (forming an image on one side of a sheet), and menus for selecting a binding side for the duplex print. When the user selects the duplex print and specifies a binding side for the sheet, such as “upper” binding, “left” binding or “right” binding, the apparatus forms an image on a sheet so as to have a binding margin at the specified side.
FIGS.
12
(
a
) and
12
(
b
) are diagrams illustrating conceivable positions and patterns for stapling and punching, respectively. It is possible to staple or punch sheets in all of the positions shown in FIGS.
12
(
a
) and
12
(
b
) if the staple/punch unit
20
can be moved along and around the entire circumference of the sheet “P”. However, the finisher
2
will become complicated and large and consequently expensive if the staple/punch unit
20
is so constructed as to move around the entire circumference of the sheet “P”. Therefore, the staple/punch unit
20
is generally so constructed as to move only in a predetermined area as illustrated in FIG.
9
.
Accordingly, the image forming apparatus
500
can staple or punch only in the positions shown in FIG.
10
. In other words, the image forming apparatus
500
can not staple or punch in other positions than those shown in FIG.
10
.
When the image forming apparatus
500
is used in a network environment, the apparatus
500
is rarely placed at a location near the user “U”. Therefore, generally the user “U” inputs the position and the pattern of stapling or punching without knowing the feeding direction of the sheets in the apparatus
500
. For example, when the user inputs to staple in the “left side” position with “double” pattern for a portrait image and when the sheet “P” in the apparatus
500
is fed sideways as illustrated in FIG.
13
(
a
), the apparatus
500
can staple the sheets as input because the “left side” of the sheet “P” is within the area “M”. However, when the sheet “P” is fed lengthwise as shown in FIG.
13
(
b
), then the apparatus
500
cannot staple in the “left side” position as input because the “left side” of the sheet “P” is not within the area “M”. In such a case, generally the print command is canceled as an error and the printing operation is not performed. Consequently, printing productivity is lowered. A similar problem occurs when punching.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The applicants of the present invention have recognized that a needs exists for an image forming apparatus which efficiently performs stapling or punching, and which thereby improves productivity of the apparatus.
The present invention provides a novel image forming apparatus which efficiently performs stapling or punching, and which thereby improves productivity of the apparatus.
One embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a staple device which staples sheets output from the apparatus in a predetermined area relative to an output sheet receiving unit of the apparatus, a staple position designating device which designates a staple position for the output sheets, and a staple instructing device which gives a staple instruction to the staple device. When the staple position designated by the staple position designating device is out of the predetermined area, a staple instruction deleting device deletes the staple instruction.
Another embodiment of the novel image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a novel image forming device which forms an image according to a print instruction including a stapling instruction from an external source and which outputs a sheet carrying the image to an output sheet receiving unit. A staple device staples sheets output from the apparatus in a predetermined area relative to the output sheet receiving unit of the apparatus in accordance with the stapling instruction. When the staple instruction includes a staple instruction to staple in a position out of the predetermined area, a staple instruction deleting device deletes the staple instruction from the print instruction.
In each of the above embodiments, a determination as to whether the designated staple position is out of the predetermined area is made based upon information of a direction in which an image is formed on the sheet, a size of the sheet, and a staple pattern included in the staple instruction.
Further, when an image is formed on both sides of the sheet with a binding margin at a designated side of the sheet and if the staple position designated by the staple position designating device contradicts the designated binding side for the sheet, then the staple instruction deleting device deletes the staple instruction.
Furthermore, the novel image forming apparatus of
Grainger Quana M.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Ricoh & Company, Ltd.
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